A work group tasked with investigating discrimination allegations against the Annapolis Police Department will hold its next meeting even though the mayor fired the chief who was a major subject of the investigation.

The work group will hold a meeting open to the public 4:30 p.m. Wednesday meeting in the City Council chambers to decide if it should continue its work and produce findings or recommendations. It also could consider disbanding without doing so, said Alderman Fred Paone, chairman of the group.

"At a minimum we would still make some recommendations," the Ward 2 Republican said Tuesday during the council Public Safety meeting. "It is a good committee. We worked hard."

The work group, which include members of the public, was put together at the direction of Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson, who chairs the Public Safety Committee.

The group was set to interview Pristoop before he was fired last month by Mayor Michael Pantelides, who made the decision in an effort to move "in a new direction" after a record number of homicides in 2016. Pristoop was intended to be the group's final interview.

The group was tasked with investigating claims made by the Caucus of African-American Leaders against the former chief. The caucus claimed Pristoop oversaw a department that discriminated against black officers as well as raised concerns about lack of community communication and increased crime in the city.

Pristoop defended his department even as it was embroiled in two separate lawsuits with black police officers claiming unfair treatment. In one case, in which officers said they were punished more harshly than white officers, a federal appeals court sided with the city, upholding a lower court's decision against the officers. The other lawsuit, a black officer who claimed be wrongfully fired after an injury, is ongoing.

Despite that court ruling, the caucus held a vote of no-confidence in Pristoop in October.

"We want some closure on this," said Finlayson, D-Ward 4. "We all do."

In other business the Public Safety Committee held its annual look-forward meeting. This is where public safety officials come before the committee to discuss their goals for the next fiscal year.

This gives the committee a chance to see what the department's plan to do in the incoming year, and that can be compared to the mayor's budget when it is released, Finlayson said.

"It gives an idea on what the department's need," she said. "It helps figure out if they are being funded adequately."

With Pristoop gone, the "look-forward" duties fell on Maj. Scott Baker, who has been serving as acting chief.

The department is continuing with its three-year strategic plans, with the newest one taking the department from 2017 to 2019, Baker said. That plan will focus on four major goals: improve community safety, improving community outreach and communication, maintain high and professional standards and improve career development.

New initiatives are being rolled out this year that will help the department meet those goals, Baker said.

One such initiative is a planned anonymous texting line. This allows people to send a text message that would allow for immediate dispatch on issues such as guns or drugs, Baker said.

Another plan is what Baker called "knock and talk" for gun arrests. Police leadership have lamented that people picked up on gun charges are making bail and back on the street within weeks, sometimes days. Once word is out that the person with a gun charge is back on the street, officers will visit their house to get them help they made need — such as aid for a drug addict — but also to warn them that officers are on the lookout, Baker said.

"We are going to follow up after they are released," Baker said. "When we see you on the street, we are going to respect your rights...but we will be looking."

Baker also provided an update on the $1.25 million that was allocated to the department before Pristoop's firing. The money has been spent on security cameras, including new ones at public housing areas of Eastport, Clay Street and Robinwood.

The additional money will also fund the department's body camera program. Police officers are already testing pilot version of body cameras with a decision on a full-fledged program expected in the coming months, Baker said.

That program is estimated to cost $200,000 to $280,000, although the math could change.

There will be staff increases as well with the department sending five potential recruits through the next round of police academies.

"We are moving forward with what was planned for the money," Baker said.

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The City of Annapolis Police and Fire Departments held an active shooter drill June 22, 2018 at St. Mary's High School.

The City of Annapolis Police and Fire Departments held an active shooter drill June 22, 2018 at St. Mary's High School.

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The City of Annapolis Police and Fire Departments held an active shooter drill June 22, 2018 at St. Mary's High School.

The City of Annapolis Police and Fire Departments held an active shooter drill June 22, 2018 at St. Mary's High School.

The annual Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial program in Annapolis, moved from the memorial to a nearby garage due to the rain.

The annual Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial program in Annapolis, moved from the memorial to a nearby garage due to the rain.

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The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office investigated a top aide to State’s Attorney Wes Adams for four months, responding to a complaint it said was filed anonymously from the prosecutor’s office.

The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office investigated a top aide to State’s Attorney Wes Adams for four months, responding to a complaint it said was filed anonymously from the prosecutor’s office.

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Body camera footage obtained by The Capital depicting the aftermath of a fight outside the Armadillos restaurant in March show an officer who claims to have sprayed Ryan Greenstreet, 23, of Huntingtown in Calvert County, and Michael Richardson, 21, of West River, with his department-issued mace.

Body camera footage obtained by The Capital depicting the aftermath of a fight outside the Armadillos restaurant in March show an officer who claims to have sprayed Ryan Greenstreet, 23, of Huntingtown in Calvert County, and Michael Richardson, 21, of West River, with his department-issued mace.